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Martyn Ball
Portrait of Martyn Ball

Martyn Charles John Ball

Born: 26 April 1970, Bristol
Major Teams: Gloucestershire, England.
Known As: Martyn Ball
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break


Career Statistics:

FIRST-CLASS
 (1988 - 2002)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct  St
Batting & Fielding  162  249  46  3949   71   19.45   0  13  195   0

                      O      M     R    W    Ave   BBI    5  10    SR  Econ
Bowling            4156.2  996 11735  317  37.01  8-46   11   1  78.6  2.82

LIST A LIMITED OVERS
 (1989 - 2002)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct  St
Batting & Fielding  220  157  50  1472   51   13.75   0   1  101   0

                      O       R    W    Ave   BBI   4w  5w    SR  Econ
Bowling            1476.2  6690  202  33.11  5-42    3   1  43.8  4.53

- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.


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There is no doubting that Martyn Ball served a long and thorough apprenticeship before suddenly being elevated to the international spotlight, adding weight to the idea that spin bowlers mature later than most.

Bristolian by birth, Ball made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire in 1988, and season after season wheeled away with his flighted off-breaks, with varying degrees of success. It took a long time for him to establish himself as a consistently successful county cricketer, and it was not until 1996 that he was awarded his county cap. Even then, there was a suggestion that it was for longevity rather than as a result of suddenly making a breakthrough.

Ball's persistence was, in itself, a valuable quality for a county that was producing few stars and which was, like Ball, seldom threatening to break free of mediocrity in terms of results. However, when Gloucestershire emerged as the kings of English one-day cricket at the turn of the century, Ball was at the forefront of the resurgence.

Not built as a sprinter, weighing in nearer 13 stone than 12, and not exceeding five foot nine inches, Ball can always be relied upon as a doughty performer, even under pressure. An excellent slip fielder, he can also provide useful runs down the order, while his off-breaks have become more potent. In the 2001 season he held 21 catches, averaged nearly 30 with the bat, and took 34 wickets at just over 25 apiece.

At a time when there were few experienced purveyors of off-spin bowling in the English game, it was to Ball that the selectors turned when Robert Croft decided that he did not feel comfortable about going to India. Having played for England Under-19s back in 1989, after which he received no further international recognition, the amiable Ball finally emerged as something more than an ordinary county professional, much to the delight of his many admirers in the game. He picked up wickets and chipped in with the bat in his one first-class game on tour, and held on to a sharp slip catch when fielding as a substitute in Ahmedabad.

That was the closest he came to Test cricket, England preferring Richard Dawson and Ashley Giles, and while Ball's enthusiasm was noticed by the management, it was probably his last chance to reach the pinnacle of the game. (Copyright CricInfo October 2002)

* Last Updated: Saturday, 09-Nov-2002 12:26:50 GMT


 
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